Barangay Ginebra San Miguel superstar Justin Brownlee against TNT Tropang 5G Game 1 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals. File photo/PBA Images.MANILA — Justin Brownlee essayed another masterpiece — one not seen in 32 years — to prove once more that Father Time has yet to catch up with him.
The 38-year-old superstar poured in a career-best 54 points to power Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to a 100-95 overtime victory over TNT Tropang 5G in Game 5 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Friday night, giving the Gin Kings a 3-2 series lead.
According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, Brownlee’s 54-point explosion was the highest output in a PBA Finals game since Tony Harris scored the same number in Swift’s 124-110 overtime loss to San Miguel Beer in Game 3 of the 1994 Governors’ Cup.
For Brownlee, however, it was simply a matter of living up to his responsibilities as the Gin Kings’ longtime reinforcement.
READ: Brownlee says no room for complacency, excuses after grueling career night
“As an import in this league, there are times when you need to take over a game,” said Brownlee, who scored 17 points in Ginebra’s fourth-quarter fightback and added five more in overtime.
“I think there is a balance where sometimes, I try to get other guys involved. But there were moments in this game when I felt like I needed to be what an import is,” he added.
TNT’s defense was another factor in Brownlee’s scoring outburst, as the Tropang 5G were content to let the newly crowned Best Import of the Conference shoulder much of Ginebra’s offensive burden while trying to neutralize the locals.
For his part, Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone has been vocal about his desire for Ginebra to be less “Justin-centric.” But after Brownlee’s latest heroics, the winningest coach in league history admitted he may have strayed from the formula that could end their three-year title drought.
“What did I say in the last game? I said we shouldn’t be so Justin-centric. Then what happens? He comes out with 54 tonight. Goes to show what I know,” he quipped.
“We really have no recourse but to allow it to happen. Otherwise, we are not going to get anything done. It’s the way they are defending. I [previously] said that we have to figure out a different way because they are wearing Justin down to the point where he is no longer effective in Games 6 and 7,” added Cone. “But when it comes to winning, you do what you have to do.”
As Ginebra goes for the kill in Game 6, Brownlee’s approach remains the same: do what he needs to do.
“I’ll always try to remain aggressive,” Brownlee stressed, while brushing off the praises he received after his historic night. “I don’t want to feel too good right now. It won’t mean that much if we don’t win the championship.”
The Gin Kings can close out the series on Sunday, 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
RELATED VIDEO: